Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes an ice maker in a freezer and a water supply apparatus in a refrigerator chamber. The water supply apparatus is at a higher position than that of the ice maker and supplies water to the ice maker. The water supply apparatus includes a water tank configured to store water for making ice, a motor at one side of the water tank, a gear or other mechanism engaged with a driving shaft of the motor, and a second shaft connected to the gear, configured to open and close a water supply passage or hole in the water tank.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0142053, filed on Nov. 21, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator with a water supply apparatus capable of supplying cooled water to an ice maker.

BACKGROUND

According to recent demands by consumers, refrigerators have increased in size. Accordingly, in order to improve both convenience and functionality of the refrigerator, an ice maker is generally included in the refrigerator.

In general, the ice maker is an apparatus that may automatically make ice without requiring the user to manually obtain ice. Water for making ice needs to be supplied to the automatic ice maker.

Particularly, a water supply apparatus for supplying water to the ice maker includes a directly connected water supply apparatus that supplies water from an outside source (e.g., a tap) for making ice, or a water supply tank in which the user directly pours water for making ice into the water supply tank, that then supplies water to the ice maker.

The directly connected water supply apparatus and the water supply tank apparatus include a separate pipe and a separate power system for supplying water to the ice maker. However, the refrigerator includes an additional pipe and power system, causing an increase in the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator.

When a water supply apparatus for making ice is changed, it may be necessary to form a different structure of the refrigerator. Thus, a component of the water supply apparatus may be separately produced, causing complexity and degrading productivity.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a refrigerator capable of supplying water for making ice to an ice maker by using a head of water (e.g., a pressurized head of water).

Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator with a water supply apparatus capable of supplying water for making ice to an ice maker, including an ice maker in a freezer; and a water supply apparatus at a higher position than that of the ice maker in a refrigerator chamber, configured to supply water to the ice maker. The water supply apparatus includes a water tank configured to store water (e.g., for making ice supplied to the ice maker); a motor at one side of the water tank; a gear or other mechanism configured to engage with a driving shaft of the motor; and second shaft, connected to the gear and configured to open and close a water supply passage in the water tank.

The refrigerator may further include a stopper at one end of the shaft, configured to close the water supply passage.

The shaft may be angled or curved in one direction.

The water supply apparatus may further include a timer configured to set an operation time of the motor. When the time set by the timer elapses, a directional rotation of the motor may change to open or close the water supply hole.

A support guide supporting the shaft may be at an upper portion of the water tank.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the refrigerator may supply water to the ice maker by using a head of water (e.g., a pressure from water elevated above the ice maker), thereby effectively decreasing the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary refrigerator with a water supply apparatus for an ice maker according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view illustrating an exemplary part of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating an operation of the exemplary water supply apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the exemplary water supply apparatus including a support guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Hereinafter, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be implemented in various different ways, and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not dimensionally illustrated. A relative size and a ratio of elements in the drawing may be exaggerated or decreased in size for clarity and convenience in the drawings for illustration, and a predetermined size may be simply illustrative, and not limiting. The same reference numerals in two or more drawings designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in the drawings (e.g., in order to exhibit similar characteristics).

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure represents an ideal exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment is not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, includes a modification of the form by manufacturing.

Hereinafter, an exemplary refrigerator 101 including a water supply apparatus for an ice maker according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the refrigerator 101 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is divided into a freezer 10 and a refrigerator chamber 20.

The refrigerator 101 includes an ice maker 12 and a water supply apparatus 200.

The refrigerator 101 according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is a side-by-side type refrigerator. The side-by-side type refrigerator refers to a refrigerator 101 having doors at a left side and a right side. The refrigerator 101 includes the freezer 10 at the left side, and the refrigerator chamber 20 at the right side. However, the chamber doors may be changed according to those skilled in the art to carry out the present disclosure. The present invention is also effective for bottom-freezer refrigerators (e.g., when the refrigerator chamber is on or over the freezer).

The ice maker 12 is in the freezer. The ice maker 12 may be an automatic ice maker.

The ice maker 12 according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure produces ice by automatically performing a series of steps or processes for making ice without a separate operation performed by the user.

Water for making ice is supplied to the ice maker 12 in order to produce ice.

The water supply apparatus 200 is inside the refrigerator chamber 20 to supply cool water for making ice to the ice maker 12.

The water supply apparatus 200 is at a higher position than that of the ice maker 12 in the freezer 10. Accordingly, a height difference exists between the water supply apparatus 200 and the ice maker 12. The water supply apparatus 200 supplies water for making ice to the ice maker using the height difference between the water supply apparatus 200 and the ice maker 12.

Particularly, the water supply apparatus 200 includes a water tank 210, a motor 220, a gear 230, and a shaft 240. Alternatively, the gear 230 may not be required.

The water tank 210 stores water to be supplied to the ice maker 12. The water tank 210 according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has a rectangular shape, but is not limited thereto. Since the tank 200 is in the refrigerator 20, the water can be cooled to a temperature of 0-5° C. before use in the ice maker 12.

The motor 220 is at one side of the water tank 210, and is attached or fixed to the tank 210 and/or a rear wall of the refrigerator chamber 20 by a bracket 211 connected to the water tank 210 (and/or rear walls). The motor 220 according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure does not require a high rotational speed (e.g., a high revolutions per minute [RPM]), so that a motor with a low rotational speed may be used, and various types of motors known to those skilled in the art.

The gear 230 engages a driving shaft 222 of the motor 220. An outer peripheral surface of the gear 230 includes part of a saw-toothed wheel. Accordingly, a set of gear teeth on the driving shaft 222 engages with a set of gear teeth on the gear 230 to generate rotational force.

The shaft 240 transfers power from the motor 220. The set of gear teeth on the gear 230 connects to one end of the shaft 240 and engages with the set of gear teeth on the driving shaft 222. As a result, the shaft 240 receives power from the motor 220. Accordingly, a water supply hole or passage 212 in a sidewall of the water tank 210 may be opened or closed by rotation of the shaft 240 from engagement of the gear 230 with the driving shaft 222. If no gear is present, the shaft may be driven directly by the motor and rotate directly.

The shaft 240 has a shape that is angled or curved in one direction (e.g., towards the hole or passage 212). To close the water supply hole 212 (e.g., at a lower side or lower half of the water tank 210), the shaft 240 may have an angled or curved shape. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the shaft 240 may not be angled or curved, and the water supply hole or passage 212 may be opened or closed using a plurality of shafts 240 as described or necessary. Alternatively, the shaft 240 may comprise a linear shaft or plunger, opened by a motor or solenoid on an opposite side of the tank 210 from the passage or hole 212.

The shaft 240 opens or closes the water supply hole 212 according to the motor 220. When the motor 220 moves the shaft 240 moves, the shaft 240 opens the water supply passage or hole 212. As a result, part or all of the water supply hole 212 may be opened, so that water for making ice may be continuously supplied to the ice maker 12.

To stabilize the shaft 240 and/or on a support guide 213 supporting the shaft 240 may be in an upper end portion of the water tank 210.

The support guide 213 supports the shaft 240 to prevent the shaft 240 from separating from the tank 210. The width of and/or spacing in the support guide 213 may be slightly larger than a diameter of the shaft 240. Since the support guide 213 supports the shaft 240 and prevents the shaft 240 from deviating from an appropriate position for opening and/or closing the water supply hole or passage 212, the width and the shape of the support guide 213 are sufficient if the width and the shape of the support guide 213 effectively guide the shaft 240, but the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

A stopper 242 for stopping or blocking the water supply passage or hole 212 is at one end of the shaft 240. The stopper 242 comprises an anticorrosive and/or rustproof material, such as rubber and/or silicone. The stopper 242 is inside the water tank 210, so the stopper 242 should comprise a material that does not contaminate the water in the tank 210.

A water supply apparatus 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a timer (not illustrated in the drawing). Particularly, the timer may determine a directional rotation of the motor 220 by setting a predetermined operation time of the motor 220.

When the predetermined time elapses, the directional rotation of the motor 220 when it changes. The shaft 240 rotates by operation of the motor 220, and when it opens the water supply hole or passage 212, water for making ice flows into the ice maker 12.

However, when the predetermined time elapses, the motor 220 rotates in an opposite direction, and the shaft 240 rotates in an opposite direction. Accordingly, the water supply hole 212 closes, and the supply of the water for making ice is stopped.

According to the exemplary configuration, the refrigerator 101 with the water supply apparatus for the ice maker may supply water for making ice to the ice maker 12 by using a head of water (e.g., pressure from the water elevated above the ice maker), thereby effectively decreasing the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or an essential feature thereof

Accordingly, it should be understood that the aforementioned embodiments are illustrative in an every aspect, and are not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is represented by the accompanying claims, and a meaning and scope of the claim, and all changes or modified forms induced from an equivalent concept thereof, may be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator, comprising: an ice maker in a freezer; and a water supply apparatus in a refrigerator chamber at a higher position than that of the ice maker, configured to supply water to the ice maker.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the water supply apparatus comprises: a water tank configured to store water; a motor at one side of the water tank; a gear engaged with a driving shaft of the motor; and a second shaft connected to the gear, configured to open and close a water supply passage or hole in the water tank.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a stopper at one end of the shaft, configured to block or stop the water supply hole at one end of the shaft.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the shaft is angled or curved in one direction.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the water supply apparatus further comprises a timer configured to set an operation time of the motor.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein when the time set in the timer elapses, a rotation direction of the motor changes to close the water supply passage or hole.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a support guide configured to support the shaft, at or on an upper portion of the water tank.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the ice maker comprises an automatic ice maker.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a height difference between the water supply apparatus and the ice maker creates pressure in the tank to supply water to the ice maker.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the water tank has a rectangular shape.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the gear comprises a partial or complete saw-tooth wheel.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein a set of gear teeth on the driving shaft engages with a set of gear teeth on the gear.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the water supply passage or hole is at a lower side of the water tank.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein when the water supply passage or hole is partially or entirely open, the water in the tank is continuously supplied to the ice maker.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the support guide is configured to prevent the shaft from separating from the tank.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the stopper comprises an anticorrosive and/or rustproof material.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the stopper comprises a rubber and/or silicone.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shaft rotates directly. 